A pull-down kitchen faucet makes washing dishes and cooking food more convenient, if not fun.
The extended reach and strong water pressure make everything significantly easier.
However, this convenience might be short-lived, especially if you don’t maintain the faucet properly.
Don’t worry; maintaining a pull-down faucet is relatively easy.
Below, we’ll walk you through how to clean a pull down kitchen faucet spray head so that you’re always ready for all tasks related to your sink.
Why Clean Faucet Spray Heads?
There are lots of minerals in our tap water. While they are neither fatal nor harmful, they are not good for your faucet either.
Over time, these minerals get trapped in the spray head.
Aside from the mineral buildup, it’s also inevitable that your spray head will get dirty over time.
As a result, it will get clogged and reduce the water pressure. This is why regular cleaning of the spray head is crucial.
That said, this problem would not be as frequent if you use a tankless reverse osmosis system with your pull-down kitchen faucet.
How To Clean a Pull Down Kitchen Faucet Spray Head
If you notice that the water pressure from your faucet is getting low, don’t call a plumber just yet.
Instead, you can try to determine whether or not it’s just the spray head that’s causing the problem.
If it is, then you can probably clean it on your own. Here’s how to do that:
Step 1: Remove the Spray Head
The first thing you want to do is to remove the spray head so that it’s easier to clean.
To do this, pull the spray assembly from the faucet’s body to expose the hose. You will then see a connector between the hose and the spray head.
Hold the connector with one hand and the spray head with your other hand.
Next, keep the connector steady while rotating the spray head counter-clockwise. This would disconnect the spray head from the body.
Make sure you use duct tape or a clip to stick the end of the hose to the faucet.
Doing this ensures that the hose does not accidentally get dragged into the body, which can be quite a hassle.
Step 2: Clean the Aerator
The aerator functions as a little screen that allows air to mix into the water to create a series of streamlets. It is also the part where minerals often get trapped.
Figure out where the aerator is in your pull-down kitchen faucet. Most are inside the spray nozzle or hose, while some are installed outside.
Once you’ve found it, you then have to remove it from the spray head or hose.
In most cases, you can do this by hand. You just have to follow the same strategy we described earlier.
If it’s stuck, try using a pair of pliers.
After removing it, rinse it under running water and use a brush or a sponge to dislodge the minerals and other particles.
What To Use for Cleaning the Aerator
Some mineral buildups are stubborn. You can’t remove them with just running water and an old toothbrush, especially if there’s also grime buildup everywhere.
That’s when you need to use a solution.
Good thing, you don’t have to buy one from the market. You can use various items at home to make a cleaning solution.
- White Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the most effective home cooking ingredients that you can also use for cleaning purposes.
It is efficient in removing mineral buildups, hard water deposits, and even rust or stains.
Step 1: Grab a tub and pour one cup of vinegar in it.
Step 2: Next, get the aerator and place it gently in the tub.
Step 3: Let it soak in vinegar for one to two hours to soften the mineral buildup stuck in the tight spaces.
Step 4: After an hour or so, grab your brush and clean the aerator and the screens. You can also do this with the spray head to remove water spots, stains, or rust.
Step 5: Once everything is clean, place the aerator, screen, and spray assembly under running water to rinse any residue and leftover vinegar.
Step 6: Assemble the spray head and reconnect it to your pull-down kitchen faucet. This way, you can determine if it’s the spray head that’s causing the low water pressure.
- Baking Soda + Dishwashing Soap
Baking soda is another kitchen ingredient you can use for cleaning. Aside from removing stains and dirt, it also gets rid of unpleasant odors.
Most importantly, at least in our case, baking soda efficiently softens hard minerals and deposits stuck in aerators.
Step 1: To make this solution, grab a container and pour a couple of teaspoons of dishwashing liquid into it.
Step 2: Add water until you can submerge the aerator or spray head in it. Add two tablespoons of baking soda and mix the solution.
Keep in mind that this method takes a long time to soften the hard water deposits.
You might have to submerge the spray head and aerator in the solution for a couple of hours or more.
These chemicals are completely harmless and gentle. Soaking the spray head and other parts in it will not cause damage.
Step 3: After at least two hours or so, lift the parts and brush them to dislodge and remove the particles.
Step 4: If the aerator still seems clogged, grab a toothpick. Poke each hole to remove perforations and reopen its pores.
Step 5: Rinse all the parts before reassembling the spray head and reattaching it to the hose.
Cleaning the Aerator Without Removing the Spray Head
Deep cleaning the aerator and the spray head using the solutions we discussed is the best way to restore the quality of your pull-down kitchen faucet.
However, if your faucet is not too clogged and you just want to give it a good clean, you can do so without having to remove the spray head.
On the other hand, there are also some pull-down kitchen faucets where the spray head can’t be detached without having to remove the entire faucet.
Don’t worry. You can still clean the spray head and aerator while it’s attached to the faucet.
Step 1: Grab the Supplies
Firstly, prepare all the necessary tools.
Look for a plastic bag big enough to fit the spray head. Also, grab your bottle of vinegar and look for a rubber band.
If you also want to clean the body, make sure you have dishwashing soap and a brush.
Step 2: Soak the Spray Head in Vinegar
Pour vinegar into the plastic bag, making sure it is enough to submerge the entire spray head.
Next, open the bag with vinegar and lift it so that it wraps around the spray head. By now, the spray head should be soaked all the way.
Add or reduce the vinegar if necessary. Once you have the right amount, grab the rubber band and tie the bag to the faucet’s spout.
Leave it to soak for an hour or two before removing the plastic bag.
Step 3: Start Brushing
After letting it soak, brush the spray head to remove the particles dislodged by the vinegar.
You can also mix some of the unused vinegar with dishwashing soap to brush the neck and other parts of the faucet.
If using vinegar for cleaning is not your thing, you might be better off using the best kitchen degreasers to remove stains and grime buildup.
If the Aerator or Spray Head Is Not the Problem
If you have already cleaned the aerator following the methods we listed, but the water pressure is still low, the spray head is probably not the problem.
Try to remove the spray head and turn the faucet on. Then, observe the water flowing from the faucet’s hose.
If the stream is not full or not as strong as it should be, there’s something obstructing the water flow in the pipes.
This would require you to look for the other connector at the other end of the hose. Hard water deposits can also clog this part of the faucet.
Step 1: To clean this, grab a headlamp or a flashlight and look inside the kitchen cabinet. Follow the faucet hose from the tube to find where it connects with the body.
Step 2: More often than not, there are tabs that attach it to the hose. You can disconnect this by squeezing it with a pair of pliers.
Step 3: Follow the same methods we discussed to clean the connector before reattaching it to the faucet’s body.
Doing this should restore the flow of your faucet. If not, it might be a good time to call a professional plumber.
Cleaning a Pull-Down Faucet Spray Head
Learning how to clean a pull down kitchen faucet spray head is an integral part of maintaining its quality.
Thankfully, it is a relatively straightforward process you can do using nothing but tools you probably already have at home.
Just be sure you dedicate a few hours of your time and follow the instructions above.
You can do this once or twice a year, or whenever necessary, to restore the quality of your pull-down kitchen faucet.